New on video for September 29/09 | “Monsters vs. Aliens”

2009 | U.S. | 95 minutes
Directors: Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon
Writers: Rob Letterman, Conrad Vernon, Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky
Cast (voice-only): Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Seth Rogen, Will Arnett, Kiefer Sutherland, Stephen Colbert, Rainn Wilson, Paul Rudd
Released by: Paramount Pictures
Cdn video Distributor: Dreamworks/Universal

Great title. Great premise. Tons of action. State-of-the-art animation. Good voice talent. Lots of glib one-liners, and loads of movie references for film geeks. Yes, this Dreamworks Animation production of Monsters vs. Aliens seems to have all the ingredients to be a crowd-pleaser. All that’s missing is a story element about something — anything — worth caring about.

Monsters vs. Aliens is about an alien overlord (Rainn Wilson) who wants to destroy Earth, and the only ones who can save the planet are a collection of mutants (Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett) who are imprisoned in a U.S. government facility, along with its newest inmate Susan (Reese Witherspoon). Susan — or, rather “Ginormica,” as prison warden General W.R. Monger (Kiefer Sutherland) prefers to call her — was struck by a meteor on her wedding day and is now a super-powerful behemoth; a nod to the Attack of the 50-Foot Woman.

The big failing of this film is that the only thing Susan seems to genuinely love is the prospect of visiting Paris on her honeymoon. In a scene that opens the film – her wedding day – it’s all she can talk about. Not exactly a heart-warming set-up for a main character. So when, after becoming Ginormica, she spends the next half of the movie trying to get back to her fiancé — who she claims to love, though he is equally as self-centered as she is — will anyone buy that? Will anyone care? And why are the monsters willing to save a planet that wants nothing to do with them? Even when they save Earth in the second act everyone, including Susan’s family, scream and run away from them.

The only love the monsters seem to have is for one another. In fact, it’s the sole reason they’re driven into action a second time. But since all we know about this motley crew is that they’re based on classic horror/sci-fi characters (The Blob, The Fly, The Creature From the Black Lagoon, Mothra) it’s hard to believe in their convictions, or feel joy in their triumph in saving a loveless world.

Susan is the only human character the movie shines a forgiving light on. Even then she’s seen as a tormented woman who decides it’s better to live life as a five-storey colossus that can stomp on buildings. Judging from the world around her, it’s difficult to disagree with her departure from the human race.

Of course, in the end, everyone finally have some hugs and kisses for these misfits. But it’s too little, and much too late. No wonder Susan gladly jumps at the opportunity to leave her family, and bolt to Paris, in the closing scene. It’s the only time a character in this movie does something that makes sense.

Basically this is a film driven by technology, movie trivia (like the painfully illogical one for Beverly Hills Cop), and a barrage of nonsensical gags. There is nothing else to care about. Hardly a surprise when you examine the dvd extras, which are full of corporate lingo and praise for technology — and obligatory plugs for Intel and HP. Much of it is about the 3D technology they used for the film, which is somewhat pointless since the movie version on the dvd is in 2D. Of course, you know what that likely means — a 3D release at a later date. Together with the video game, and upcoming series, corporate strategy and marketing once again prove successful in spite of weak storytelling.

• Theatrical release date: March 27, 2009
• Video release date: September 29, 2009
• Production Budget: $175 million
• Worldwide Box Office:$379,882,019

FUN ALTERNATIVES: Obviously Pixar Animation has made some popular hits involving monsters and sci-fi, such as Monsters Inc. and WALL-E. And few have saved the world with more lovable charm than The Incredibles. But one film that tends to get overshadowed is the Warner Animation production of The Iron Giant. It’s set in the 1950s, features a very cool and funny beatnik character named Dean (Harry Connick Jr.), and the E.T.-like story is brilliantly re-invented here. It’s about a young boy who adopts a giant space robot that has crash-landed on Earth and now suffers amnesia. Together with Dean, they try to save this enormous metal man — more an innocent child despite its size and destructive potential — from the typically over-zealous military who are obsessed with destroying it.

Because of its period setting, and sci-fi monster premise, the film could just as easily have wallowed in gags and b-movie references, but the filmmakers are smarter than that. They include director Brad Bird, whose name you might recognize as writer and director of The Incredibles and Ratatouille. As with all of his films, it consistently delivers genuine affection, in a story worth smiling about.